Landforms and Life
A landform is a physical feature on the surface of our planet Earth. Landforms take shape over millions of years and significantly connect with the environment and life.
Landforms are broadly divided into three main categories: mountains, plateaus, and plains. These landforms have different climates and are home to a variety of flora and fauna.
Mountains are landforms much higher than the surrounding landscape, characterized by a broad base, steep slopes, and a narrow summit. Some are snow-capped, providing water to rivers, while others are permanently snowcapped.
Mountains with tall, sharp peaks like the Himalayas are relatively young, formed millions of years ago and still growing. Shorter, more rounded mountains and hills, such as the Aravalli Range, are much older and have been rounded by erosion.
Mountain slopes often feature montane forests with conifer trees, giving way to grasses, mosses, and lichen at higher altitudes. Deep forests, rivers, and caves provide habitat for diverse fauna like the snow leopard and yak.
The rugged mountain terrain often limits regular farming, leading to terrace farming and herding. Tourism, including sports and pilgrimages, is an important income source, but it can put pressure on the fragile environment.
A plateau is a landform that rises from the surrounding land and has a more or less flat surface, often with steep slopes on its sides. Plateaus can vary in height from a few hundred to several thousand meters.
Plateaus are often rich in mineral deposits and have been called 'storehouses of minerals'. Mining is a major activity, with examples like gold and diamond mining in the East African Plateau and iron, coal, and manganese in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau.
Plains are landforms characterized by an extensive flat or gently undulating surface, generally not more than 300 meters above sea level. They do not have any large hills or deep valleys.
Floodplains, formed by rivers depositing sediments, have very fertile soil ideal for growing crops of all kinds. Agriculture is a major economic occupation in these landforms, supporting a large global population.
Plains support a large population, but face challenges such as high population density, pollution, and depletion of groundwater due to irrigation. River navigation is easy, supporting economic activities and historical travel.
Deserts are large and dry expanses with very little precipitation, featuring unique flora and fauna. They can be hot, like the Sahara and Thar, or cold, like the Gobi and Antarctica.
Humans have adapted to all landforms, including deserts and rugged mountains, making them their home. This demonstrates human adaptability and resilience, reflected in diverse cultural traditions.
Altitude is defined as the height of an object above sea level. Examples include the altitude of a mountain, a bird, or a plane in flight.
Precipitation refers to water from the atmosphere reaching the ground in any form. Rain, snow, and hail are the most common forms of precipitation.
Bachendri Pal was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest in 1984. Arunima Sinha, who lost a leg, also climbed Mount Everest in 2013 and went on to climb the highest peak on every continent.
Many communities worldwide consider rivers and mountains sacred, conducting festivals and rituals at their sources or confluences. Mount Everest, for example, is called 'Mother Goddess of the World' by Tibetans.
Ancient Tamil Sangam poetry classified landforms into five tinais: Kuriñji (mountainous), Mullai (grassland and forests), Marudam (fertile agricultural plains), Neydal (coastal regions), and Pālai (arid, desert-like regions). This classification reflects deep human-environment connections and associated lifestyles.